Love Productions has named former BBC Studios and Channel 4 executive Ralph Lee as chief executive.
He takes on a role vacated by Love co-founder Richard McKerrow, who stepped down from the Great British Bake Off producer after two decades earlier this year.
Lee previously spent six years at BBC Studios Productions, initially as director of content then chief executive, a role he left in January.
Prior to that, he was at Channel 4 for 16 years – barring a one-year stint as Channel 5 head of factual - rising from deputy head of specialist factual to acting chief creative officer.
Shows he oversaw at C4 included Gogglebox, First Dates, 24 Hours in Custody, Benefits Street and SAS: Who Dares Wins.
Lee also chairs industry sustainability body Bafta albert.
Cécile Frot-Coutaz, chief content officer and chief executive of Love’s owner, Sky Studios, hailed Lee as “one of the UK’s most respected creative leaders”.
She added: “Ralph’s experience combining creative excellence with global commercial expansion, and values-driven leadership, makes him uniquely qualified to step-in and take Love Productions into a new era. It is a hugely exciting time for the company and the perfect opportunity to build on the success of the company so far.”
Meanwhile, Love manging director Letty Kavanagh, who has been running the company alongside creative director Kieran Smith and executive editor Simon Evans since McKerrow’s departure, is leaving the company.
Lee's appointment was first reported by Broadcast.
